Archive for Plots

I hate the fact that I sometimes work out troubling plot points when driving. In one case, the major plot point is the plot itself. I have a great concept I want to work on but I can’t find the right story idea in which to implement this concept. I’ve been hesitant to reveal too much about it in any type of public forum because it is not something I’ve ever come across. So it is nice to have a semi-original idea. (I think there are just to many stories and only so many plots that there is nothing completely original any more.) I say semi-original because I’ve discovered there is a t.v. show that touches on some of the concepts, but not my central one. At least that part is safe so far.

While driving to work one morning, in the dark, thinking about said t.v. show’s mythology and how it differed from the obvious source material, I finally worked out my plot issue. I worked out the one piece that helped me settle on a story idea. The only problem is that something happened in traffic that distracted me and I stopped thinking about it. Half an hour later, after getting to work, parking in the garage, getting to the office, getting breakfast ready, and sitting down, I realized I forgot it.

That’s the way it works. I get my best ideas or resolve issues at the worst of times and then can’t remember then when I’m in a place I can do something about them.

Now I’ve spent a couple of days trying to recreate my thought process to find that one ‘hook’ I need again. By finding that one hook, it pulls up the thread of my construct. So all the loose threads fall into place and I suddenly have my weft upon which I can start weaving a story. I NEED that hook.

This is not the first time I’ve gotten ideas or worked out a plot point when on the road. It seems to be my best thinking time. But it is really hard to write anything down. Years and Years ago, I had a recorder to put the ideas into. But that got lost during a movie in college. In practice, it really didn’t work out so well. Probably not a huge loss. On the other hand, I might have eventually gotten the hang of it.